Automatic sprinkler head



Aug. 3 1926.

A. H. TROTTER AUTOMATIC S PR I NKL-ER HEAD Original Filed April 22,.1924

Patented Aug. 3, 1926.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR H. TCROTTER, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER HEAD.

Application filed April 22, 1924. Serial No. 708,285.

This invention relates to sprinkler heads, and has tor its object a particularly simple. practical and eflicient construction by Which a thermostat can be used to close the valve after the fire has been extinguished and hence undue Water damage is prevented.

The invention consist in the novel "features and in the combinations andconstrue tions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing thisinvention reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of this sprinkler head.

Figure 2 is an elevation partly in section taken at a right angle toFig; I.

Figure 3 is a plan View ofthe thermostatic element.

Figure 4 is an elevation of the thermostatic'element partly in section and parts being removed.

As is Well known to those skilled in the art, the fusible elements of sprinkler heads can be melted by a comparatively insignificant lire and before the Water can be turned oil considerable more damage is done by the Water than by the fire. The object of my invention is the production of a simple then lnostatic element which is sure in its operation, and Which is readily applied to, or sell? contained with the sprinkler heads themselves.

his sprinkler head comprises generally a body or open frame having a nipple at one end for attachment to the sprinkler pipe system, a valve having a head normally closing said nipple, a fusible element interposed bctween the valve and the body, and a thermostatic element self contained With the body and the valve and arranged to act on the valve to close the valve under low temper.- ture conditions, aft-er the fusible element has been melted by high temperature or tire conditions, and to close the valve under such lOW temperatureconditions, and permit it. to be opened again by the Water pressure in case the tire again starts;

1 designates the body of the sprinkler head, which isfsho'vvn asa frame formed; of twe opposite' bow shape'd arms, and an attaching nipple 2' at one end, the nipple having passage therethrou gl'r, and usually:h'aving a'seat 3, at itsinner end. t is-the valve head tarnish-y engag d with the seat 8, and,

Renewed .Tune 22, 1926.

having a stem 5 extending through a guide openingG formed in a transverse Web 7 connecting the side arms of the frame or body 1.

8 is a fusible element 1.1sually interposed between the upper end of the body and the end of the stem, the body being usually providedivith an adjustingscrew head threading into the end remote from the nipple 2, and against- Which one end of the nipple 8 thrusts.

The thermostatic means. is arranged to act directly upon. the valve stem and as here shown'comprises bowsshaped strips 10 and 11, ot thermostatic material, the strips being bowed oppositely relatively to each other and having passages 12 midway between their ends through which the valve stem 5 extends. One ofthe strips as 10 thrusts at its central portion against the Web 7 and the other strip 11 thrusting at its central portion against an adjustable shoulder as a nut or nuts 13=on the stem.

These thermostatic strips are of such a metal that they are normally tint and are bowed or tensioned when placed in position so as to push against the shoulder 13, in a direction tending to hold the valve stem seated, and acting'underthe influence of heat to flatten, and hence relieve the pressrnre on the shoulder or nut 13, so that the valve can open When the fusible element 8 is melted.

The stripslO and-11 are enclosed in a suitable holder or container 14i Which is here illustrated as rectangular in form, and folded from a strip of metal in the general form of a lJOX open at its top and bottom and the end of the strips 10 and 11 tl'irusting against the. ends of the box. The box. is of a metal having a greater co-efi'icient of: expansion thanthe strips 10 and 11, so that, under the lIIflLlGTlGGOf heat it elongates faster than the strips 10, 11, and hence permits the strips 10 and 11 to flatten.

in order to keep the box l-l from. tallin oil the strips, suitable means is. provided, here shown as lugs 15 extending inwardly from opposite ends of the box, betweenthe endsoi the strips: 1.0 and 11. However such lugs may be dispensed with and the; her; held from displacement by the friction. between the strips 10, 11, and the box;

In order to prevent" the material of the fusible element- 8 when vmelted from running in t e passage 6 and sol ering. the valve stem 5 to the web 7, a pan 16 is inserted between the fusible element 8 and the end of the valve stem In operation the fire melts the fusible element 8 in the ordinary manner, and also expands or elongates the thermostat relieving all holding effect on the valve.

Hence when the fusible element 8 is melted, the valve opens under the water pressure. After the fire has been extinguished by the water and the temperature falls, the thermostat strips 10 and 11 bow away from each other and thrust against the nut 13 on the stem 5 to seat the valve head -l-, and either entirely or to a great extent shut off the water, so that, very little or no water damage is done after the fire has been extinguished. In case the. fire is not entirely extinguished and again starts after the valve has been closed by the thermostat, then the thermostat will again flatten under the heat, and permit the valve to open.

This thermostatic sprinkler head is particularly advantageous in that the thermostatic apparatus is self-contained with the sprinkler head and requires no change in the sprinkler system except the substitution of sprinklers having my thermostatic control for the standard sprinkler head.

What I claim is:

1. A thermostatic sprinkler head, comprising a body formed with a valve seat, and an attaching nipple, a valve having a head normally closing the nipple, a fusible element interposed between the body and the valve for holding the valve head against its seat, and a thermostat self-contained with the body and the valve and acting on the valve, to press the valve toward its seat under low temperature conditions after the fusible element has been destroyed by fire conditions, and to permit the valve to move from its seat under fire temperature conditions.

2. In a thermostatic sprinkler head, a body formed with an attaching nipple, an axially movable valve having a head normally closing the nipple, and a stem guided in the body, a fusible element interposed between the body and the stem to normally hold the valve closed, and a thermostatic element mounted in the body and on the stem, and arranged to thrust against the body and the stem to hold the valve closed under low temperature conditions after the fusible element has been destroyed, and per mit the valve to open under lire temperature conditions.

3. In a thermostatic sprinkler head, a body provided with an attaching nipple, and a transverse web between the ends of such body, the web being formed with a guide in line with the nipple, a valve having ahead normally closing the nipple, and a stem extending through the guide, a fusible element arranged between the end of the stem and the body, and normally holding the valve closed, the stem having a shoulder thereon, between the web and the v: lve head, and a thermostatic element mounted on the valve stem and thrusting against the web and against said shoulder, and op aling to close the valve under low temperature conditions after the fusible element has been melted, and to permit the valve to again open under high temperature conditions.

l. In a thermostatic sprinkler head. COMP" prising a body having an attaching nipple at one end, a valve having a head normally closing the nipple, and a stem extending lengthwise of the body, a fusible element between the end of the stem and the body, the stem having a shoulder thereon, a thermostatic element between the body ant said shoulder, and arranged to permit the valve to open by water pressure under high temperature conditions, after the fusible element is melted, and again close the valve under low temperature conditions.

5. In a thermostatic sprinkle head, comprising a body having an attaching nipple at one end, a valve having a head for closing the nipple and a stem extending lengthwise of the body, a fusible element between the stem and the body, the stem having :1 shoulder thereon, a theremostatic element between the body and said shoulder. and arranged to permit the valve to open by water pressure under high tempe ature conditions, after the fusible element is melted, and to again close the valve under low temperature conditions, the thermostatic element comprising bow-shaped strips, having openings between their ends through which the valve stem passes, the strip being arranged to elongate and flatten under high temperature conditions, said strip thrusting at their central portions against the body and the shoulder on the stem.

6. In a thermostatic sprinkler head, comprising a body having an attaching nipple at one end, a valve having a head normally closing the nipple, and a stem extending lengthwise of the body, a fusible element between the stem and the body, the stern having a shoulder thereon, a thCYIHOSl'HU'J element interposed between the body and said shoulder, and arranged to permit the valve to open by water pressure under hi gh temperature conditions, after the fusible element is melted, and to again close the valve under low temperature conditions, the thermostatic element comprising opposing bow-shaped strips, having openings be tween their ends, the central portions of the strips thrusting against the body and the shoulder on the stem, and a housing enclosing the strips and against which the strips thrust at their ends, the housing being of :1

material having a greater coefficient of en:- pansion than the strips.

7. In a thermostatic sprinkler head a bod; formed with an attaching nipple, and a transverse Web between its ends, the web being formed with a guide, a Valve having; a head normally closing the nipple and a stem extending through the guide and formed with a shoulder, a fusible element between the body and the end of the valve stem to normally hold the valve against its seat, thermostatic strips extending transversely of the body, the strips being bowed in opposite directions relatively to each other, and having openings in their central portions through which the stem passes, one strip thrusting against the web and the other against the shoulder on the stem, said strips being arranged to flatten under high tens-mature conditions and to bow-outwardly and close the valve against its head under low temperature conditions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 21st day of Jan. 1924;.

ARTHUR H. TROTTER. 

